Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“Coming here from all continents, finding ourselves before the Pope to listen to his words, which from the very first day have invited us to live in peace with ourselves, in our country, in our society and in our community, was a sacred moment,” said Sister Abby Avelino, coordinator of Talitha Kum. “From Leo XIV, we received encouragement to continue the fight against the scourge of human trafficking, aware that peace will not be possible unless we truly respect human dignity.”

February 8, the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, is the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking.

Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, praised organ donation after death but cautioned that “transplants must always be performed ethically, in a way that respects human dignity,” and never “as an object of trade.”

Turning to xenotransplantation, Archbishop Balestrero said in his February 3 statement that “the transplant of procreative organs, or parts of the human brain, which are responsible for the personal identity, is morally unacceptable.” He added, “Any unnecessary suffering of animals must be prevented, and the biodiversity and the balance of species within the created order must be respected as research in this area is pursued.”

Commenting on bioengineering, he said:

While these technologies could indeed make a real impact in meeting the demand for organs, cells and tissues, it is essential that stem cells used in these processes are obtained through morally acceptable techniques.

In this regard, the Holy See deems unacceptable and strongly condemns the use of pluripotent embryonic stem cells. This includes cells derived from embryos so-called “left over” following IVF procedures, or “manufactured” by IVF specifically for the purpose of obtaining stem cells.

The Holy See also condemns the use of foetal cells and tissues derived from aborted fetuses.

Bishop Robert Prevost, the future Pontiff, was bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is his special envoy to the commemoration.

The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops described the expiration of New START, an arms reduction treaty between Russia and the United States, as “simply unacceptable.”

The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced that Bishop Erik Varden, OCSO, of Trondheim, Norway, will preach the Lenten spiritual exercises to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia.

The Sistine Chapel will remain open as the restoration work takes place.

Pope Leo XIV has transferred a Brazilian bishop to a smaller diocese.

In a message for the International Day of Human Fraternity and the awarding of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to “what is most precious and universal in our humanity: our fraternity, that unbreakable bond which unites every human being, created in the image of God.”

Pope Leo XIV exhorted pilgrims present at his February 4 general audience in Paul VI Audience Hall to read Sacred Scripture.

At the conclusion of his February 4 general audience, Pope Leo XIV recalled St. Agatha.